May 19, 2018

Experiences in Korea: Temple Stays

When planning to travel to Korea, or to any country, you always want to avoid the kitschy, "touristy" areas in favor of a more authentic experience. Planning an authentic tour is hard, however, unless you already know a lot about the area's culture. Is this tour really highlighting the most important sights of Korean history, or just showing things that tourists like to see? Does this restaurant offer real Korean food, or a cheap imitation of it?

If authenticity is what you seek, consider a stay at one of South Korea's Buddhist temples. Temple stays put visitors directly in touch with Korean Buddhism's proud 1700 year history. Through interactions with monks and tours of the temple sites, you'll be right in the heart of the peninsula's culture.

May 03, 2018

The Terracotta Warriors of China

As you begin planning your upcoming trip to the People’s Republic of China, there are a few crucial steps you’ll need to take. Get your passport and visas, research flights and buy your tickets to China. But before you start packing your luggage and exchanging currency, you’ll want to decide on your perfect itinerary. Start planning where in this beautiful, dynamic nation you’d like to visit. One of the most popular and fascinating destinations resides in the bustling city of Xi’an (population 8.5 million) — home to one of the most visited UNESCO World Heritage sites in the country. Each year, millions of people fly to China to visit one of the most striking man-made marvels in the world.

April 28, 2018

Visiting Japan? Escaping from Tokyo is a Must!

Tokyo has been variously described as one of the most exciting, most metropolitan and most futuristic cities in the world. Frankly, we’d have to agree. If you’re planning a trip to Japan, though, it’s worth bearing in mind that the world outside its capital city is absolutely bursting with the sort of culture, nature and history you simply won’t find anywhere else.

Indeed, nearly 100 million souls reside in the 46 Japanese prefectures outside Tokyo — that makes for almost endless opportunities to become more familiar with one of the most oddly unique countries on earth.

Not yet convinced? Keep reading to learn why you should add at least a few outside-Tokyo destinations to your Japanese bucket list.